Jesse Helms, former U.S. senator, July 4

Jesse Helms, former U.S. senator, July 4Former N.C. Sen. Jesse Helms, an unyielding champion of the conservative movement who spent three combative and sometimes caustic decades in Congress where he relished his battles against liberals, Communists and occasionally a fellow Republican, died on the Fourth of July. He was 86.

Jesse Helms, former U.S. senator, July 4Former N.C. Sen. Jesse Helms, an unyielding champion of the conservative movement who spent three combative and sometimes caustic decades in Congress where he relished his battles against liberals, Communists and occasionally a fellow Republican, died on the Fourth of July. He was 86. (Getty Images/Mark Wilson)

Jesse Helms, former U.S. senator, July 4Former N.C. Sen. Jesse Helms, an unyielding champion of the conservative movement who spent three combative and sometimes caustic decades in Congress where he relished his battles against liberals, Communists and occasionally a fellow Republican, died on the Fourth of July. He was 86.Getty Images/Mark Wilson